Power & gentlemanliness: What they didn't tell you about the apex of leadership

Augustus Caesar (Octavian) vs The Roman Senate | Rome

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Consider this less comfortable revelation: while we admire the Nine Worthies of whom the best personify the ideals of chivalry and be ideals to aspire to, the actual business of ruling was far messier than our sanitized histories suggest. Julius Caesar and his adopted son, Augustus Caesar, didn't build his empire by being a gentleman – they built it through ruthless pragmatism, political manipulation, and when necessary, brutal force. The same Caesar who wrote elegant commentaries also ordered the hands cut off of thousands of Gallic warriors. Augustus Caesar murdered Cleopatra, and ordered the murder of Caesarion, son of Julius Caesar & Cleopatra.

Here's where our previous analysis needs a stark reality check: it's remarkably easy to preach about virtuous leadership when you're not at the pinnacle of your kingdom making the hard decisions. Vladimir Putin's moves in Crimea and Donald Trump's proposed U.S.'s expansion into Greenland and Canada might seem ungentlemanly, but they reflect a fundamental truth about power that Niccolo Machiavelli understood all too well: at the highest levels of leadership, traditional notions of gentlemanly behavior often become codes one cannot afford.

The uncomfortable reality? The Nine Worthies are celebrated precisely because they are exceptions, not the rule. For every "worthy" leader history remembers, there are dozens who maintained power through means that would make our gentlemanly sensibilities recoil. Even King Arthur, that paragon of chivalric virtue, reportedly ordered all newborn boys in his kingdom drowned in an attempt to kill the prophesied Mordred – hardly the action of a gentleman.

Let's be clear: this isn't an endorsement of ruthlessness, but rather a clear-eyed acknowledgment of reality. When Putin annexed Crimea, he wasn't consulting etiquette books – he was following a playbook as old as the Byzantine Emperor Justinian himself. The same forces that compelled Caesar to cross the Rubicon still drive rulers & CEO's today: survival, expansion, and the raw exercise of power. However, we now have international laws, human rights conventions, and democratic institutions precisely because we've learned the brutal lessons of unchecked power.

Here's where our perspective demands careful nuance: While we study these historical patterns of power – from Caesar to Augustus to Justinian – we must judge today's actions by contemporary standards of human rights, international law, and ethical leadership. What was acceptable in ancient Rome or medieval Europe cannot justify similar actions in our modern era of global accountability and humanitarian values.

Russian President Vladimir Putin received a standing ovation while giving a speech to both houses of Parliament, in which he defended his decision sign a treaty to annex the breakaway Ukrainian region of Crimea.

Photo: Getty Images

For our readers who find themselves in positions of the highest authority – whether in corporations, institutions, or government – this presents an uncomfortable paradox. The very qualities that make one a "gentleman" in peaceful times – restraint, consideration, fairness – were once seen as potential weaknesses. But in our modern context, these qualities have become essential to legitimate leadership. Understanding the raw mechanics of power shouldn't seduce us into abandoning our evolved standards of ethical conduct.

Chanakya, that ancient Indian master of statecraft, put it bluntly: "A king who is situated anywhere immediately on the circumference of the conqueror's territory is termed the enemy." In the real world of power, there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies – only permanent interests. How's that for ungentlemanly wisdom?

The truly shocking revelation isn't that modern leaders sometimes act in ways that seem beneath the dignity of their office – it's that they're following a pattern as old as leadership itself. The Nine Worthies are remembered precisely because they were extraordinary exceptions to the normal brutal business of power.

So where does this leave the modern gentleman? Perhaps with a more nuanced understanding that true power rarely aligns with our idealized notions of gentlemanly behavior. The next time we're tempted to judge the seeming crudeness of modern power plays, we might do well to remember that we're viewing them from the perspective of the masses, not from the lonely heights of a man ruling a kingdom.

In the end, perhaps the most gentlemanly thing we can do is acknowledge this uncomfortable truth: power and gentility have always been uneasy bedfellows, and they're likely to remain so. The real question isn't whether leaders should be more gentlemanly, but whether the very concept of gentlemanly leadership is anything more than a comfortable fiction we tell ourselves.

Now, who needs another cigar?

Disclaimer

While the original concept of the Nine Worthies includes figures from pagan, Jewish, and Christian traditions, this article is intended to celebrate individuals based on their chivalric ideals, regardless of religious affiliation. We recognize and deeply respect the significant values held by all religions, including Islam, Christian Orthodoxy, Buddhism, Hinduism, and others, which contribute to the rich cultural and spiritual tapestry of the world.